Online Gambling in Indonesia: Over 1 Million Participants in 2025, Including Children
Indonesia’s Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) reported that between January and March 2025, around 1.07 million Indonesians participated in online gambling.
Scale of Participation in Online Gambling
According to PPATK, in the first quarter of 2025 (January to March), online gambling involved:
- 1,066,000 people — total number of players
- 71% — users with a monthly income of less than 5 million rupiah (approximately $310)
- 400 players — minors (under 17 years old)
Financial Indicators
Despite the large number of participants, the total deposit amount significantly decreased compared to the same period last year.
| Period | Total Deposits |
|---|---|
| Q1 2024 | $932 million |
| Q1 2025 | $385 million (approximately 6.2 trillion rupiah) |
Thus, the volume of funds deposited dropped by more than half. PPATK explains that despite the high number of participants, most of them are low-income individuals who are “still struggling to meet their basic needs.”
The Issue of Underage Participation
The participation of children and teenagers in online gambling has become a separate concern. Out of the total number of participants, 400 were under 17 years old. This has raised concerns among both authorities and the public.
Comment from the Head of PPATK
PPATK head Ivan Yustiavandana emphasized that many of the online gambling participants are those who need money for other, more essential needs. He added:
“71 percent are our fellow citizens who truly need this income for other vital necessities.”
Conclusion
Online gambling remains a pressing social issue in Indonesia.
Despite a drop in deposit amounts, the number of participants is growing, including vulnerable groups such as teenagers and low-income citizens.
Authorities need to develop measures to reduce the impact of this phenomenon on the population.